Category Archives: Uncategorized

Here is a study I did at Zion’s Midweek about the hymn “Joy to the World,” its background and the inspiration for the hymn, Psalm 98.

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor … Continue reading →

The “words” of Jesus here are all of his sayings, commands, and promises. Collectively they are the “word” mentioned in v. 3 that makes us clean before God. This is all the words not only of Jesus in the Gospels … Continue reading →

There are two, and only two, alternatives: abide in or remain in the vine, and become a fruitful branch, or be cast out and burned. These are the two options, there is no third option. You are either in Christ … Continue reading →

There is a wide range of interpretations in the last two hundred years about the nature of this fruit. Some say it is “soul-winning,” though there’s nothing here that even remotely implies that. Others say this fruit is obedience or … Continue reading →

To be fruitful (i.e., to grow and abound) spiritually, you must be dependent on the vine, which v. 1 identifies as Christ. This dependence is “continuous dependence on the vine, constant reliance upon him, persistent spiritual imbibing of his life” … Continue reading →

To “abide” means to “remain” or to “dwell” to “continue” or to “endure.” When we talk about abiding in this sense of persevering or of remaining in Christ (John 15:4), we are not talking about whether or not you can … Continue reading →

2:1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also … Continue reading →

“The saddest road to Hell is the one that runs under the pulpit, past the Bible, and through the middle of warnings and invitations.”   -J.C. Ryle

“When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing. They then become capable of believing in anything.” This explains much of what is going on in our society at the beginning of the 21st century.